Cycling UK Forum

Hi everyone. I am fairly new to the bicycle commute. I tried it a couple of years ago but the problem is that I have to do part of the commute by train. I have a very steep climb in on the last leg before I get home so a folder just isn't suitable. I've just bought a new ladies' hybrid and I'm hoping that I'll have a better experience this time round.

It's disappointing to note that in the last couple of years the train companies have become more uptight about letting cyclists with standard bikes on board which has reduced my options somewhat: looks like I'll only be able to use Northern trains now!

I am considering doing the whole distance (19 miles one way) on the bike at some point in future, but I am fairly new to this and I'm worried that I might find it too much! Does anybody else regularly do this sort of distance? Does it require top notch fitness?

I can do part of the 19m on a Sustrans route which is good and pick up the train part way along so I'm thinking that I might start off with this.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

How much riding have you done in the last year or so? Jumping straight to 38 miles a day would be very difficult and could risk your health a little if you not used to riding the distance.

Once you start riding regularly you will notice your fitness pick up really quickly. How secure is your work place? Is it possible to lock your bike at work over night and share a lift or get public transport home? If so I would suggest Riding in one morning (say Tuesday if your not much of a monday person!) locking it up over night, get a lift back home and into work and ride home in the evening. Do this once the first week, see how you feel, then try for two return trips with a days break in the middle, get used to that then try return trips in one day.

Build it up slowly and don't force yourself to ride when your not feeling well.

If you don't fancy this try riding in the evenings after work and on weekend building up your miles to try and jump straight to return trips in the same day. Depending on how intensely you ride doing your 38 mile commute even three times a week may be all you can manage even when fit, as other stresses like work also reduce how much energy you have left for your riding.

wobbly

We've discussed this once or twice on here before* and I think you are talking about a long commute by the standards of the majority on here. (I commuted year round/ on rotating shifts for many years but I never tackled anything approaching this on a regular basis - and I used to be a 100+ mile a day rider.) This is physically possible for a fit cyclist - and anybody doing this soon would be. But, apart from the effort of doing this, a big consideration is the time taken - not only riding but getting ready to go and then getting cleaned up and changing on arrival. If you are doing it regularly, a lot of your week will be occupied with this. The mind would be more important than the legs.

It helps if you can vary your route, even by a bit. (Sustrans type routes can be very dependent on fine dry weather - snow ploughs don't venture off road.)

You need a decent bike and the ability to fix it at the roadside. Good lights if you intend doing this all the year round. Decent togs for the different seasons. Secure, dry bike storage, shower/changing facilities and drying facilities for wet togs are all desirable.

*A similar discussion

wobbly wrote:Hi everyone. I am fairly new to the bicycle commute. I tried it a couple of years ago but the problem is that I have to do part of the commute by train. I have a very steep climb in on the last leg before I get home so a folder just isn't suitable. I've just bought a new ladies' hybrid and I'm hoping that I'll have a better experience this time round.

It's disappointing to note that in the last couple of years the train companies have become more uptight about letting cyclists with standard bikes on board which has reduced my options somewhat: looks like I'll only be able to use Northern trains now!

I am considering doing the whole distance (19 miles one way) on the bike at some point in future, but I am fairly new to this and I'm worried that I might find it too much! Does anybody else regularly do this sort of distance? Does it require top notch fitness?

I can do part of the 19m on a Sustrans route which is good and pick up the train part way along so I'm thinking that I might start off with this.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I've been contemplating commuting to work in Bradford - 15 miles from where I live in Leeds especially since the replacement school that I'll be working in in September has secure cycle storage and showers.

However, there is a price to pay for the free exercise - a loss of time. Currently my daily commute take a total of 1.5 hours maximum.

I reckon that preparation and post journey showering tacked onto the cycling will mean that I spend closer to four hours commuting - I'm yet to find a flat route between home and work.

Twice a week is likely to be my self imposed limit.

Thirdcrank is right - this would be a long commute to do every day so think of building up distance / frequency gradually.
Regarding time, in my head I knock off an hour or so a day because I don't need to take alternative exercise (or time spent feeling guilty about not taking any exercise).
You could also knock of the time it takes to earn the money to commute by other means.
My view is decide what you want to do, then backfill with as many justifications as you may need
Good luck with it.

My commute is around 14 miles each way. Alas I've been working away from site a lot for most of the last few weeks so so have been going by (alas a 60 mile each way with two or three changes of clothes and a laptop is too far!) two trains and a bus.

I've been commuting on and off for the last two years and my time moving tends to be around 47 (normally about 16-17mph average without adverse wind, was more like 12-13mph to start) minutes, around an hour door to door (dahm traffic lights and crossings!). On top of that I need about half an hour to lock up the bike in the office and walk across the campus, shower and change and settle into work.

So total commute by bike including 30min for an evening shower and sorting bike stuff is closer to 3 hrs.

When I go by train door to door it takes me about 1hr10 each way, so the bike is only costing me 40 minutes a day and I fit in between 1hr40 and 2hrs bike time.

Main thing is if you choose to do that journey do it mainly because you want to enjoy riding, rather than because you want to save money, or time. Having getting fit as an aim is fair enough but unless you enjoy the riding (which I'm sure you will!) it won't stick.

I suggest try the full-length trip on the way home first. Don't underestimate the time. My view is that if your cycling as a means of transport, not sport, you shouldn't need a shower at the end of the journey. Just go a bit slower, more like walking than running.

Tony S

I would go with most of the comments,build up slowly etc. If you try to do the full commute 5 days a week to start with you will be knackered by Weds., if not earlier. Some sort of half and half to start with.
Remember the time factor. I am currently, on some days doing a full commute of 17 miles to and from whilst recuperating from injury and instead of usual shifts am doing 8.30-4.30, this means I am out of the house just before 7 and not home until almost 7 (we never finish at 4.30 more like 5-5.15).
Whilst the ride is reasonably quick for the first 12-13 miles, the last few miles is when I meet traffic, and yes I know you can thread thru, but you cannot do it at 14+mph, you have to be careful and there can be a lot stop/starting for junctions. Likewise on my return journey the first bit is incredibly slow for the same reasons.

The combination of miles, working and the time factor will be what wears you down depending on what you are used to doing, physically.

do it mainly because you want to enjoy riding

Spot on

My journey is only 9 miles e/w, but I have to be at work at 4.30am, and my job is pretty physical, so I find that I don't look forward to commuting. If I had to do it daily, I would definately not enjoy being on the bike, so I figured that if I feel good to go by bike I will, (no guilt if not,) and mainly use after work to get my cycling thrill!

Best of luck with your decision, but my advice would be to go 1/2 way....

wobbly wrote:Hi everyone. I am fairly new to the bicycle commute. I tried it a couple of years ago but the problem is that I have to do part of the commute by train. I have a very steep climb in on the last leg before I get home so a folder just isn't suitable. I've just bought a new ladies' hybrid and I'm hoping that I'll have a better experience this time round.

It's disappointing to note that in the last couple of years the train companies have become more uptight about letting cyclists with standard bikes on board which has reduced my options somewhat: looks like I'll only be able to use Northern trains now!

I am considering doing the whole distance (19 miles one way) on the bike at some point in future, but I am fairly new to this and I'm worried that I might find it too much! Does anybody else regularly do this sort of distance? Does it require top notch fitness?

I can do part of the 19m on a Sustrans route which is good and pick up the train part way along so I'm thinking that I might start off with this.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

20miles daily is achievable....

i do that distance to work/college - there and back.
so 10miles in to town, 10miles back

its not so much fitness, but perseverance thats needed

theres days were youknow your fit enough to ride it...but feel shattered from the day before

in all honesty you dont need top-notch fitness...but your looking for a decent level...its also useful if your used to working your legs ie if you go swimming or walking regularly. the muscles are used to working and therefore are less prone to get injured.

in the long term tho...you will eventually be able to cycle 20miles with ease...tho to begin with it may feel like an uphill struggle

My commute is a hilly 11 miles each way to a prep school in an AONB. Idyllic cycling on quiet county lanes apart from the first two miles at home end. IT is also straight into steep climbing from leaving the house. I commuted on three consecutive days before half term. I found myself on all days worried about leaving my breakfast on the side of the road of the first climb and also felt more tired first thing in the morning on the climbs than I do when I go out with Mr Yoyo for a Sunday afternoon trip in teh same area. The added problem of getting up significantly earlier and getting home later was quite a disincentive for a regular commute. My fitness is certainly above average but the time involved and the extra personal organisation makes it impractical for a regular commitment.